Phonographic announcing mechanism



Original Filed Feb. 28, 1934 10 Sheets-Sheet l llllllllll W Ta 1. #L F. v Q I 2 v m J I 0 5: w L? Y a a M a 5 W n n r A L h 0 I3 am a a 94 x Will ff ATTORNEYJ I June-l3, 1939. I J. L. FRANKLIN V Rg. 21,111 PHONOGRAPHIC ANNbU NCING MECHANISM OR THE LIKE Originai Filed Feb. 28, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY-7 QW W June 13, 1939. J. L. FRANKLIN vPHONO GRAPHIC ANNOUNCING MECHANISM OR THE LIKE Original Filed Feb. 28, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 R O T N E V. m

ATTORNEY;

June 13, 1939. J. 1.. FRANKLIN PHONOGRAPHIC ANNOUNCING MECHANISM OR THE LIKE Original Filed Feb. 28, 1954 10 Sheets'-Sheet 4 INVENfOR ATTORNEYS June 13, 1939- J. L. FRANKLIN Re. 21,111

PHONOGRAPHIC ANNOUNCING MECHANISM OR THE LIKE Original Filed Feb. 28, 1954 1 1O Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 0% z #mwuu;

ATTORN BY June 13, 1939.

Original Filed Feb. 28, 1934 J. L.- FRANKLIN PHONOGRAPHIC ANNOUNCING MECHANISM OR THE LIKE l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR $0441 awou June 13, 1939; J. FRANKLIN Re. 21,111

' I PHONOGRAPHIC ANNOUNCING IE CHANISI OR THE LIKE Original Filed Feb. 28, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 13, 1939. J. L. FRANKLIN PHONOGRAPHIC ANNOUNCING MECHANISM OR THE LIKE Original Filed Feb. 28, 19:54

10 Sheets-Sheet 8 I I INVENTOR ak a? fiwa I 1 63M )PMJ' ATTORN EYJ June 13, 1939.

J.. L. FRANKLIN PHONOGRAPHIGKANNOUNCING MECHANISM on THE LIKE Original Filed Feb. 28, 1934- 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 ATTORNEY June 13, 1939. J. L FRANKLIN Paonoemrmc ANNOUNCING IECHANISI on THE LI-KE ori inal Filed Feb. 28, 1934 10 Sheets-Sheet 1o 5mm M000 I luvzm'oli ATTORN KB Reissuecl June 13,1939 g v R 21,111 i UNITED STATES}. PATENT; OFF-ICE PHONOGRAPHIC ANNOUNCING MECHANISM OR THE LIKE John L. Franklin, Atlanta, Ga.

Original No. 2,011,216, dated August 13, 1935, Serial No. 713,417, February 28, 1934. Application for reissue April 27, 1939, Serial No. 270,385

32 Claims. (Cl. 179-6i The invention relates to the field of phono- Fig. 8 is a face view of the hour record shiftgraphic devices useful as a combined time and ing ratchet; advertising announcer and for many other pur- Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9, Fig. 1, on an poses. 1 enlarged scale;

.5 It is an object of the invention to provide'a Fig. 10 is a detail section on line |Ill of device that may be combined with one or a plu- Fig. 1- on an enlarged scale; rality of telephones to automatically speak the Fig. 11 is a face view of the minute record time over the telephone to the nearest full minute. shifting ratchet;

It is a further object of the invention to pro- Fig. 12 is a section on an enlarged scale taken vide a device having no physical connection with on line 12-12 of Fig. 10; 10 the telephone circuits which will perform the Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the reproducer stated function for long periods of time withcarrier driving cam with frame parts shown in out attention. section;

It is a further object to provide a device of this Figs. 14, 15, and 16 are sections on correspond- 10 character using two records utilized seriatim to lug lines of Fig. 1 showing standing position of reproduce a single spoken sentence. certain additional switches with their actuating It is a further object to provide a time an- 1 cams; nouncing device actuated automatically in re- Figs. 1'7 is a side elevation of a receiver lifter spouse to a telephone call, which will hold calls and switch actuator; I, a

go on any one or more phones associated therewith, Fig. '18 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. 20

which calls are completed while the device is 1'7 omitting the fragment of the telephone in in operation in response to a previous call or calls, strument;

and when said announcement in process is com- Figs. 19, 20, and 21 are sections on the correpleted will immediately repeat the announcesponding lines of Fig. 18 showing standing posiment over the later calls which have been stored'f. tions of switches actuated by the receiver lifter;

in the meantime. Fig. 22 is a detail section on line 22-22 of It is a further object to provide means to lock Fig. 17; out the announcement initiation while the records Fig. 23 is a. diagram of circuits; are being shifted and to lock out the record Fig. 24 is a diagram of a modified form of shifting means while an announcement is in circuits; and 30 process. Fig. 25 is a diagrammatic view of a form of cam It is a further object to improve thequality to be used with the circuits of Fig. 24. of reproduction of sounds by photo-electric re- As shown the device comprises three principal production. mechanisms inteficonnected electrically or me- It is a further object to provide novel means chanically, or both, in such manner as to each 3.3 for changing a record automatically so that difcontrol the action of the other two under some ferent ones of a plurality of records upon a carconditions. The mechanisms referred to are rier may be in position at various times. sound reproducing mechanism, record shifting Further objects of the' invention will appear mechanism, and mechanism to associate tele- {0 from the following description when read in conphones with the sound reproducing mechanism. 40.

nection with the accompanying drawings show There is also a system of electric control whereing an illustrative embodimentof. the invention, by the actuation of each of said mechanisms .is and wherein: v i l t m f Plan View} 7 The sound reproducing and record shifting l 2 15 a 3 elevatm?" mechanisms are shown as mounted on a base 5:56; 3? i g g gfi fgg gig Illustrating h 25 provided with an upstanding transvere slab 2B.

' To support film sound record strips, the cyl- 1 Fig. 4 is an end view from a direction oppo- Site to the View" of Fig 2; inders 21, 2| are shown each-formed as shown Fig& 5 and 6 are sections drawn to an m for cylinder 20 in Fig. 10 with a. face plate.

larged scale, taken on lines 55 and 6-, rewhich may be secured to the cylinder y means spectively, of Fig. 1, showing thestanding posiof angles e p ate is shown as retion of certain witche movably secured to a ring 3| by means 01 screws Fig. 7 is a. section on an enlarged scale, on 32, the ring 3| being screwthre'aded on shaft 54 "ID line 1-4 Of Fig.1; v and standing flush withslab I. I ,5

Record shifting mechanism To revolubly support the cylinder, shaft 54 is mountedin anti-friction bearings 54 in block- 35.

The shaft 54 is arranged to be driven, through 'a one-way clutch to be described, by disk 55 hired on sleeve 53 freely revoluble on shaft 54, a

step at a time, by means of gear teeth 31 on the edge of the disk in mesh with pinion 58 carried upon the hub of Geneva gear 35 operated by pin 40 carried by disk 4| once in each revolution of the disk 4|, said disk 4| fast on shaft 42,

driven by motor 43.

The inotor '43 is controlled by mercury switch A to make a full rotation of shaft 42 once during each minute, the said rotation being made during a very few seconds after which the motor is stopped by circuits and switches to be described. To operate the mercury'switch D,- which is mounted on an arm 44, see Fig. 14, pivoted at i on a flxed pivot, the arm carries a roller 45 riding on a cam 41. The cam 41 is driven at the rate of one revolution per minute by any suitable timing operator as by the synchronous motor 45. The switch D being briefly closed and then again opened by the continuously rotating cam 41: the motor 43 will start and, close a hold circuit by means to be described which will cause the motor to complete the turn of disk 4|.

The record carrying cylinders 21, 25 are shown as formed with grooves to guidethe placement of sound fllm records thereon.

To shift cylinder 21 once each hour, sleeve 35 carries a cam 55,. the cam shown as pinned to disk 35 with a spacer 51 interposed, see Fig. 10. Coacting with cam 55, an arm 55, Fig. 7, is shown pivoted upon block 55 at 55, and having a proiection-15 bearing on the cam. The free end of arm 55 is pivoted to abar 1| carrying ra'ckteeth 1: in mesh with gear teeth 51' carried by disk 5 by tensile spring 15 anchored at its ends to block 55 and to the arm 1| respectively, the strength of the spring being amply sufllcient to easily turn cylinder 21. s The arrangement is such that arm- 1| will be radually forced to the left in Fig. '1

during the successive minute shifting movements of cylinder 25 of each hour with yielding of overrunning clutch arms 5|. At the end of each hour the projection 15 will slip from the step 55 allowing spring 15 to pull bar 1| to the right to move the ratchet teeth one step. The height of step 55 is just sufficient to allow cylinder 21 to ,ing action the ends of the same record grooves will be in position to commence the next sound 'eproduction.

The projection 15 is held against the cam Sound reproducing mechanism The cylinder 25 is driven in a sound reproducing direction by main motor 45 driving shaft 55 through a speed reducing gear, which shaft carries gear 5| in mesh with gear 52 carried by sleeve 53, Fig. 10, freely revoluble on shaft 54..

The sleeve 53 through pin 55 drives ring 55,

which ring is formed with ratchet teeth 51 coacting with ratchet teeth 55, Fig. 11, carried by disk'55 fast on shaft 54.

Disk 55 is formed with an annular flange against the interior surface of which clutch arms 5|, Fig. '1, pivoted upon disk are pressed by springs 52 shown as acting in tension.

To yieldingly press the ratchet teeth into engagement, springs 52 are provided acting in compression between ring 55 and flange 53 on sleeve 55. The. pin 55 slides in an opening in flange 53. The disk 55 thus drives the shaft 54 for record shifting through clutch arms 5| and for sound reproducing by action of ratchet teeth 51, 55 with overrunning of the clutch arms 5|.

The driving in sound reproduction of :cylinder 21 is the same as that of cylinder 25 with the exception that an idle gear 54 is interposed between gear 5| and gear 52' to cause the cylinders to drive in opposite directions for convenience of] design;

The spring 52 is shown as of a different de- I sign from springs 52 only for purpose of illustration of the fact that either form may be used.

To reproduce sound from photo-film sound records 14 carried in grooves on cylinders 21 and 25, there is shown a reproduced carriage comprising an upright casing 15 slidably mounted on rods 15 mounted over an opening 11 in base 25, and a plate 15 mounted on the casing 15. Mounted on the plate 15 are light sources |5|, I55, the light from. which is focused by lens systems car'- ried in tubes 15 upon; the film records and reflected into light sensitive cells, as selenium cells housed-in casings 55 also mounted on plate 15.

The casing 15 isutilized to house any known form of audio frequency amplifier, details of which are not necessary to illustrate.

To move the reproducer head, the carriage is shown, Fig. 13, as provided with a pivotally mounted shoe 5| traveling in and driven by cam grooves 52 and 55, the groove 52 causing outward travel and 55 return travel of the reproducer heed with-a single direction of rotationofthecylinder 54inwhichthe groovesare formed. The shoe 5| will becaused to pivot'at the ends of its travel by means of the form of interconnection of the grooves 52, 55 at 55, 55 in a well known manner.

The cam cylinder 54 is mounted on a shaft 55' in bearings 51, suspended from base 25, the shaft 55' being driven by gear 55 in mesh with gear 5|, see Fig. 2.

To control the interactions of the various electrical drives and sound reproduction, the mechanism already described, in addition to .mercury switch D, is provided with mercury switches E and F actuated by cams 55 and 55, respectively, which are fixed on shaft 42, and mercury switches A, B, C, and G, A, B, and C being all back movement of the reproducer head.

35 placed to be affected by the ringer. Also an in- Telephone connector The mechanism for associating a telephone, with the sound-reproducing mechanism is, for purpose of convenient location, shown in Figs. 17 and 18 as mounted on a separate base 91. Said mechanism is shown as comprising a motor 98 driving a shaft 99 provided with an end bearing I00, the drive of said shaft being through reduction gear not shown. The control of motor 98, to be described, is such that shaft 99 will be given one complete revolution when a telephone call is completed, in a little more time than will be required for a complete 'sound reproduction act, whereupon motor 98" will be cut off.

Fixed on shaft 99 are switch cams IOI, I02,

I03 to control mercury switches H, I, and J, and receiver lifting cam I04. To lift the receiver I05 of a time announcing telephone, a plunger I06 is shown as slidably mounted in a cylinder I01 carried by a base I08, pierced byshaft 99. and secured on base 91. The plunger I06 is shown as carrying a roller I09 bearing on cam, I04, The plunger I06 carries a plate, II0 projecting beneath the receiver I05. When theshaft 99 and cam I04 are revolved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 22, the receiver will be lifted and supported during a major portion of revolution of shaft 99 and lowered when the revolution is completed.

control As shown in the diagram of circuits, the device is designed to serve a plurality of telephones. As many as ten to fifteen telephones may be so served; At each telephone is a microphone III duction coil II2 to be affected by the-sound reproduction of the device which will induce in the telephone circuits the voice currents of the sound reproduction.

When the ringer of the telephone affects microphone I I I ,*the pulsating current will act through Wires H3, M4 to cause fluctuations in coil II5, which fluctuations will be amplified by tubes H6, ill to cause coil II8 to be energized to attract armature II9, thus closing a circuit from power wire I20, wires I2I, I22, I23, I24, contact I25, wire I26, mercury switch J, which is normally closed, wire I21,magnet I28, wires I29, I30, to power wire I3I. Magnet I28 will then pull down armatures to close switches I32 and I33.

Closing of switch I32 will close a circuit from wire I20 through wires I2I, I22, I34 normally. closed mercury switch G, wires I35, I36, switch I32, wire I31, motor 98, wire I30, to wire I3I, thus starting the receiver lifting motor. At the same time closing of switch I33 will close a circuit from wire I20 through wires I2I, I22, I23, switch I33, wire I38, mercury switch J, wire I21, magnet I28, wires I29 and I30 to wire I3I, the mercury switch J having been opened by the initial motion of shaft 99 caused by starting motor 98. The starting of motor 98 will also close the motor 98 running during one complete revomercury switch H, as shown in Figure 19, which will place a hold-up circuit on motor 98 through wires I3I, I30, motor 98, wire I39, switch H, wire I40, wires I22, I2I to wire I20, which will keep lution of shaft 99, when mercury switch H will be opened to start motor 98 The current passing through mercury switch G, as above described, will also close a circuit from wire I35 over wires I'4I, I42, solenoid switch I43, wires I44, I45, I38 to wire I3I, thus, closing Revolution of the main motor 49 will cause revolution of cams 9I and 92 which will immediately close normally open mercuryswitch B, thus providing a hold-up circuit on motor 49, through wires I63, I62, I6I, motor 49, wires I60, I59, mercury switch B, wires I64, I53 to power wire I20, thus causing motor 49 to produce a complete revolution of shaft 93 and a complete out and back movement of the soundreproducer. At the same time normally closed switch A will be opened to prevent an operation of the record shifting'motor 43, the circuit of which will be described, in order that the record shiftingoperation may notbe carried outwhile the sound reproducing action is in process. I

When the sound reproducing head reaches the end of its outward travel, mercury switch C will be shifted to extinguish lamp I5I and through wire I to energize exciter lamp I66 through Wire I61, I52 to battery.

The solenoid switch I43 will be held closed during the operation of the main drive 'motor because its circuit is controlled by mercury switch B.

The timing motor 48 is at all times energized .through wires I63 and I53 respectively in connection with the power wires I20 and HI and through the cam 41 will cause at the end of each minute a circuit to be closed from wire I20 through wires I53, I68, switch D, wire I69, motor 43, wires I62, I63

F, wire I13, motor 43, wires I62, I63, to power wire I3I. This circuit will be available when the sound reproducing is not in action to provide a hold-up circuit for timer 43 to cause a complete revolution of shaft 42 to shift the records, as described, but if the sound reproducer is in action, mercury switch A will be opened.

Therefore after the initial movement of the motor 43, due to the circuit first described therethrough, the motor will be stopped until the mercury switch A is again closed' when it will be able to complete its action of shifting the records.

The revolution ofmotor 43 will also open the normally closed switch E which controls the initial action of the main motor 49, and therefore the main motor cannot be started while the record shifting motor 43 is in action.

The variation of the photo electric cells 80 prpduoed by the sound-film record is amplified by the amplifier in the cylinder 15, passed the voice currents passing by way of wires I15, I16, to modulate the voicecoil II2 thereby impressing the announcement upon the telephone by induction.

When the solenoid switch I28 is energized and closes switch I33, a locking 'circuit through mercury switch J, which is normally closed, is pro- -'through a'second audio frequency amplifier I14,

vided by wires I20, I22, I23,switch I33, wire I38,

switch J, wire I2'I, coil I28, wires I29, I30 to I3I. This circuit will hold the call until motor 98 starts to initiate the response when it will be broken to release switch I28 ready for a succeeding call. While coil I28 is thus energized,

I switch I32 will also be closed but since the initial motion of the motor 98 depends upon a circuit through mercury switch G, which, is broken during sound reproducing action, motor 98 will be held from operation but will be immediately started when the existing action of the mechanism terminates.

If, therefore, but one telephone is being served, all others will be held out and all calls that have been stored will be served when the one in process is completed. Should there be stored calls waiting when motor 49 completes a cycle, it will immediately be'again started by closed switch'I32 in series with G unless the motor 43 has started to make a record shift which is held against completion during action of motor 49. If motor 93 has made a start to shift a record, it will have openedswitch E so that motor 49 cannot be started until the record is shifted.

As between a stored call andrecord shifting op-- eration therefore, the latter will have preference in order to not announce an incorrect minute.

The use of reflected light from a photographicv sound record is not-new. However, in former structures for using this method, of which I am aware, the reflection has been wholly or mainly fromthe surface of the record, the modulation being produced by relative darkening of adjacent portions of the record by the photographic process. In the structure disclosed herein, the portions of cylinders 21 and 28 underlying the transparent film record utilized is made highly reflective as by chromium-plating the bottoms of the grooves, if metallic cylinders are used, or by placing a thin ribbon of chromium plated metal in the bottoms of the grooves, if nonmetallic cylinders are used.

It is found that by this expedient a marked improvement of tone quality results above that of any other method. The best theory known to me to account for the improvement is as'follows; The natural sound of the voice is a substantially continuous tone. When this is applied to a. photo flhn in the usual manner, dark areas I80, Fig. 3, are produced separated by transparent areas III. When reproduced by transmitted light or light reflected from the surface of the film, these areas act cleanly in sequence.

By my. method however, a ray at one time passes in and .out again through a dark portion I00, as at I82, then in through aportion of the same dark area and out of the adjacent transparent area IBI in the manner indicated at I83, then in at a transparent area and out at a dark area as indicated at I84, At times the ray may be passing both in and outthrough the same transparent area. Some of the dark areas may be 'sufllciently opaque to cut off the light almost altogether, which does not detract from the cor;

rectness of the theory;

In this manner the effect of the adjacent dark areas is elided, reproducing a substantially continuous tone which is very natural.

Operation The operation should be clear from the above description. To summarize: The device may be associated with a plurality of telephones, the control of the telephones being in parallel.

The ringing of a bell when the device is idle causes the receiver lifting motor to start to lift the receiver and action .of this motor causes the sound reproduction motor to start. Once started,

each of these motors will complete a cycle and then stop.

The minute announcing record is changed each minute and the hour record at the end of each hour, but record shifting cannot take place while the main motor is running, nor can the main motor be started while a record is being shifted.

The calls over all phones that are completed while other telephones are being answered are stored, and all thus stored calls are answered together when a cycle in process is completed.

\ other purposes than time announcing, as for instance for general advertising.

A diagram of circuits for controlling the mechanism of Figs. 1-16 for such a purpose -is illustrated in Fig. 24. When used in this manner the telephone associating mechanism and circuits are omitted.

In this form the time motor 48 is continuously running and may be geared to shift records at intervals other than one minute and also if desired, cam 65 may be modified to at all times shift the records simultaneously, in an obvious manner.

Mercury switches F and E are both controlled by the form of cam shown at I95 in Fig. 25 driven by motor 48. When the high point on the cam acts, mercury switch E will c1ose to complete a circuit from wire I3I, through wires I96, I01, motor 49-, wires I88, I89, I90, I9I, mercury switch E, wires I92, I93 to wire I20. Starting of motor 49 controlling switches A and C will close A, plac-, ing a hold circuit on the motor through wires I93, switch A, wires I89, I88, motor I9 and wires I81, I86 to I3l, thus causing motor 49 to produce a cycle of sound reproduction and stop by opening switch A. This action will take less time than one-half revolution of cam I85.

The closing of switch A will complete a circuit through wires I3l, I94, switch I43, wires I95, I89, switch A, wires I93 to I20, causing lighting of the exciter lamps. When the low spot on cam I85 acts, switch F will be closed to .start motor 43, which will close its hold switch D and complete a record shifting action.

Minor changes may be made in the physical embodiments of the invention within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

' I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination: a revoluble support; a plurality of sound records extending spirally at least partially around saidisupport'to be brought successively into position to be reproduced; means to reproduce sound from said records; and automatically actuated means to change the record in position to be'reproducedby circumferential movement of said support. i

2'. In a device of the class described, in combination: a revoluble support; a plurality of sound records extending spirally at least partially around said support; means to reproduce sound from said records; automatically actuated means to changethe record in position to be reproduced, by circumferential movement of said support; andtime controlled means to initiate action of said record changing means at predetermined intervals.

3. Changeable phonographic announcing mechanism comprising, in combination: normally stationary announcing means; sound record shifting means; means to automatically cause action of said shifting means at intervals; means to prevent initiation of movement of said announcing means while said shifting means is acting; and a plurality of sound records successively moved to announcing position by said shifting means.

4. Telephonio announcing mechanism comprising, in combination: a telephone circuit; phonographic reproducing means to modulate the telephone circuit; means to associate said telephone circuit with said means when a call is received; means to shift the sound records of said phonographic means to cause desired announce- Inent thereby; and control means acting when one of the three first named means is operating to prevent operation of either of the other two.

5. Telephonic announcing mechanism comprising, in combination: phonographic reproducing means; a plurality of called telephones; sound record shifting means; means to associate any of a plurality of said telephones with said phonographic means; and control means to delay association of telephones over which calls are completed while either of the first two named means is acting and to complete said delayed association and initiate renew'ed movement of the reproducing means thereafter.

6. Telephonic announcing mechanism comprising, in combination: normally stationary phonographic reproducing means; a plurality of called telephones; means to associate any called telephones of said plurality simultaneously with said first named means; and means responsive to completion of a call on any of said telephones to cause movement of said first named means.

7. Telephonic announcing mechanism comprising, in combination: a plurality of called telephones; normally stationary phonographic reproducing means common to said telephones; a plurality of means each individual to one of said telephones to associate the same with said reproducing means upon completion of a call thereon; means common to said telephones to delay action of the second named means in response to calls on any telephones completed while the first named means is acting and to initiate such delayed response and renewed movement of the reproducing means thereafter.

8. Phonographic announcing mechanism comprising, in combination: a pair of cylindrical record carriers; sound records spirally mounted on said carriers; a reproducer head common to said carriers; reproducing means mounted on said head individual to said carriers; means to cause outand return traversing movement of said head over said carriers; means to cause one re-- riers; a plurality of sound records mounted on each of said carriers; a reproducer head common to said carriers; reproducing'means mounted on said head individual to said carriers; means to cause out and return traversing movement of said head over said carriers; means to cause one reproducing means to be active during the out movement and the other during the return move;- ment; said last named means and said movenormally stationary ments timed to cause a continuous announcement from the pair of records on said carriers; and automatically acting means to move said carriers "to bring diiferent records to acting position.

10. Time announcing means comprising, in combination: minute and hour record carriers; sixty and twelve sound records spirally mounted on and extending at least partially around the respective carriers; the ends of said records terminating at an edge of each carrier at points equidistantly spaced thereabout; time controlled means to shift said carriers one-sixtieth of a revolut-ion each minute and one-twelfth of a revolution each hour respectively; reproducing means movable over said carriers and means to move said reproducing means to announce the hour and minute seriatim in cooperation with the sound records then in active position.

11. The combination of claim in which the record carriers are cylinders.

12. The combination of claim 10 in which the record carriers are cylinders; the sound records are partially transparent photographic films; the reproducing means comprise sources of light and light-sensitive cells acting by reflected light; andbe afiected by light from said source reflected from said surface through said film; and an electric circuit connected to have current therein modulated-by said cell.

l4. Phonographic announcing apparatus comprising, in combination: a revoluble record carrier; a plurality of sound records carried thereby spirally thereof and terminating at positions at an edge thereof; drive means to turn said carrier in a reproducing direction; drive means to turn said carrier to change the record to be reproduced; said drive means each permitting free revolution of said carrier in response to the other.

15. Phonographic announcing apparatus comprising, in combination: a revoluble record carrier; a plurality of sound records carried thereby spirally thereof and terminating at equidistantly spacedpositions at an edge thereof; drive means to revolve said carrier in a reproducing direction; drive means to turn said carrier step by step in record changing movement to bring successive records into reproducing position; each of said drive means permitting free movement of the carrier in response to the other.

16. Phonographic apparatus for use with lightsensitive cell reproducing means comprising, in combination: a cylinder having a groove in its surface; a-reflecting surface in the bottom of said groove; a partially transparent photographic film sound record, mounted in said groove and overlying said surface.

p 17. Phonographic time announcing mechanism comprising, in combination: a telephone; a plurality of sound records; a shifting motor geared to change said records; a main motor geared to drive said records; a motor geared to associate said telephone withsaid records; control'switches for the respective motors; and a governing switch in series with each of said control switches, each actuated by one of the other motors to prevent confiictingaction of any two motors at the same time.

18. Phonographic time announcing mechanism comprising, in combination: time announcing means embodying a record carrier; a plurality of records on said carrier; record changing means;'

a motor geared to drive said announcing means for announcement movement of the record carrier; a motor geared to drive said record changing means to cause record changing movementof the carrier; a time controlled switch to start the last named motor at definite intervals; a holding switch in the circuit of said second named motor controlled thereby to cause completion of the record changing action; a switch in series with the last named switch held open by. operaion of the first named motor; said record changing gearing including an intermittent gear so as not to interfere with the action of the first tamed gearing when the record changing gear is partially operated.

19. Phonographic telephone answering mechanism comprising, in combination: a called telephone set; a cam to lift the. receiver of said alled telephone; a motor to drive said cam; a.

switch responsive to the action of a telephone ringer to start said motor; phonographic telephone answering means; a main motor to drive said last named means; a switch closed by operation of said telephone motor to start said main motor; a switch closed by said first named action of the telephone ringer to start said motor; film sound record telephone answering means comprising a source of light; a switch closed in response to action of a telephone ringer; means operated by said last named switch to energize the light source of the answering means; a main motor to drive said answering means; a switch closed by operation of said first named motor 4 to start said main motor; a holding switch closed by said main motor to cause completion of its answering action and subsequently broken thereby to stop said main motor.

21. Phonographic telephone answering mechanism comprising,-in combination: a usual called telephone set; receiver lifting means; a. motor to drive said means; a switch responsive to the action of the ringer of the telephone to start said motor; a switch closed by initial operation of said motor to cause the motor to complete its action and broken by said action to stop said motor; phonographic telephone answering means: a main motor to drive said means; a switch closed by the first named motor to start said main motor; a holding switch moved by said main motor to cause complete action thereof and then broken thereby to stop said main motor; a normally closed switch in series with the starting switch of said first named motor, said normally closed switch opened by initial action of said main motor to prevent the first named motor from starting while the main motor is operating.

22. Time announcing mechanism comprising, in combination: a pair of record cylinders; minute and hour announcing sound records carried by the respective cylinders; each of said cylinders mounted to revolve upon a shaft; 9. member rigid with said shaft; means to drive said rigid member in sound reproducing direction comprisinga member journalled upon said shaft having ratchet engagement with said rigid member; means to shift said cylinders in a direction to change the records comprising a gear journalled upon said shaft, an overrunning clutch between said gear and said rigid member, and means to move said gear at definite time intervals.

23. Time announcing mechanism comprising,

in combination: a pair of parallel shafts; a pair of cylinders mounted on said shafts respectively; twelve sound records for announcing the hours carried by one of said cylinders; sixty sound records carrying the minute announcement upon the other of said cylinders; a record shifting motor; a shaft driven thereby; a disk upon said shaft carrying a pin; an intermittent gear to be actuated by said pin once during each revolution thereof; a gear mounted upon each of said parallel shafts; a pinion carried by the hub of said intermittent gear in mesh with the gear upon the minute shaft; an overrunning clutchto drive said minute shaft on said gear; a cam carried by said gear; an arm operated by said cam; a rack carried by said arm in mesh with the gear upon the hour shaft whereby to move said hour shaft to shift the hour records once during each full revolution of the minute record shifting gear; means to energize said motor once each minute to cause full revolution of said motor shaft at each energizationof the motor; means to drive said cylinders in the record changing direction independently of the described record shifting movement; and a reproducing head driven by said cylinder drive actuated to coact with the records upon said ,cylinders seriatim to provide a continuous announcement of the hour and the minute.

24. The method of utilizing a photographic film record comprising recordings of varying opacity carried by a transparent film which method comprises passing light through the records and film; and causing the light to be reflected again through the film from a reflecting surface behind the film whereby to vary the intensity of the reflected light in accordance with the relative opacity of various portions of the record.

25. The method of sound reproduction which comprises passing light from a source thereof through a partially transparent photographic film sound record; causing said light to be reflected from a surface closely adjacent to the back of said film again through the film, and modulating an electric current in accordance with variations of said reflected light.

26. Phonographic apparatus for use with light sensitive cell reproducing means comprising,- in combination: a record carrier having a reflecting surface; and a partially transparent photographic film sound record mounted on said carrier and overlying said surface.

27. Phonographic telephone answering apparatus comprising, in combination: a pair of. recrd carriers; film sound records mounted on said carriers; ,9. reproducer head; a pair of exciter' lamps carried by said head individual to said records; an exciter-lamp switch; means to move said head ou and return; telephone associating means; means actuated by said associating means to start said head moving means; means actuated by said telephone associating means to close said exciter'switch whereby to light one of said lamps during "out" movement of the head; and means actuated by moving means to extinguish the lighted lamp and to light the remaining lamp for the return movement of the head.

28. Phonographic announcing apparatus comprising,-in combination: a rigid revoluble record carrier; a plurality of sound records carried by said carrier, extending spirally at least partially around the same and terminating at an edge thereof at equidistantly spaced points about its circumference; means to reproduce sound from said records; and automatic means to intermittently move said carrier circumferentially the distance between said points for record change.

29. Phonographic announcing apparatus comprising, in combination: revolubly. mounted cylindrical sound record-carrying means; a plurality of sound records mounted on said means; a reciprocable sound reproducing head coacting with said records; means to cause reciprocation of said head comprising a revoluble drum having a double spiral cam to cause "out and "return movement of said head; and means acting at the end of the out movement of the head to change the record coacting with the head upon the return" movement of the head.

30. Phonographic announcing apparatus comprising, in combination: a pair of record carriers; photographic sound records mounted thereon; drive means for said carriers; a reproducing head; light sources carried by said head for coaction with the respective recordson said carriers to reproduce sound; means to cause out" and "return movements of said head; means to energize one light source only during the out" and the remaining light source only during the "return" movement of the head; and means to cause both sources to be energized momentarily at the end of the ou movement to avoid a break in the sound reproduction from the two records.

31. Phonographic announcing apparatus comprising, in combination: a revoluble carrier; a plurality of sound records carried thereby spirally thereof and terminating at positions at an edge thereof; drive means to turn said carrier in a reproducing direction; drive means interposed between said flrst named means and the carrier to turn said carrier to change the record to be reproduced; said drive means each permitting turning movement of the carrier in response to the other.

32. Phonographic announcing mechanism comprising, in combination: a plurality of record carrying cylinders mounted for revolution; a'plurality of sound records carried by each of said cylinders in multiple screwthread arrangement thereon and terminating at equidistantly spaced points about the circumference thereof at ends of the. cylinders; the length of the record and the pitch of the screwthread arrangement thereof difiering between the cylinders; a reproducing head mounted for travel parallel with the axes of the cylinders; reproducing means carried by said head for said respective cylinders; means to cause out" and "return movement of said head at speeds corresponding to the respective pitches of said screwthread arrangements; means to revolve said cylinders during sound reproduction; and means to cause respective of said reproducing means to be active during out" and r'eturn" movements. 7

JOHN L. FRANKLIN. 

